Nightmare Kart

About

"Nightmare Kart" is a racing game that thrusts you into the role of a beast hunter in a nightmarish, gothic-inspired world. Compete in a dangerous tournament, racing on unique copper and steam vehicles while battling opponents and beasts to boost your speed. Uncover the secrets behind this twisted dream by defeating challenging bosses and unlocking new vehicles and abilities.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,890 reviews

graphics178 positive mentions

stability44 negative mentions

graphics
510 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
62%
3%
The graphics of the game are a nostalgic homage to the PS1 era, featuring low-poly models, pixelated textures, and CRT effects that evoke a sense of charm and authenticity reminiscent of classic titles. While many players appreciate the retro aesthetic and its integration with the game's gothic themes, some critiques highlight issues with visual clarity and control responsiveness. Overall, the visuals are celebrated for their creativity and attention to detail, making it a standout experience for fans of retro gaming.
- “A truly amazing kart racer with awesome music, great visuals, good humour and a ridiculous amount of charm.”
- “The psx graphics are on point, wobbly pixel textures and low draw distance included - they even added a subtle flicker effect to simulate old CRT screens.”
- “The graphics gave me a huge nostalgia hit lol, reminded me of playing Mario Kart on the DS or the Wii.”
- “The PS1 graphics evoke nostalgia, but instead of designing the game with the hardware limitations in mind, it feels like the dev just made it ugly and called it retro.”
- “The graphics are messy, sloppy, and difficult to read, serving as an example that good PS1-styled graphics are not easy to make.”
- “The PS2 graphics and bitcrunched sound quality only serve to make the things that would otherwise be mildly annoying absolutely infuriating.”
music
464 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
44%
1%
The music in this kart racer has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and catchy soundtrack that evokes nostalgia for classic games. Composed by Evelyn Lark, the music is described as a standout feature, often being labeled as "bangers" and "absolute fire," although some note that it occasionally feels mismatched with the game's darker aesthetic. Overall, the soundtrack significantly enhances the gameplay experience, making it a memorable aspect of the game.
- “The soundtrack is amazing, by far the best part of this game.”
- “The music is awesome, the gameplay is fun, and overall feels like a nostalgic racing game with an interesting story.”
- “The music adds so much to this game.”
- “In particular, the controls are not very good, the music is random and totally out of place, the sound effects are ripped from Mario Kart, and all the modes alternative to racing are just not fun.”
- “And the music does not fit the atmosphere and tone at all.”
- “Its dark souls theme does not pair well with its upbeat Mario Kart-like racing music.”
gameplay
420 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
52%
1%
The gameplay of this kart racing game has been widely praised for its innovative mechanics, combining familiar elements from classic titles like Mario Kart with unique features such as a combat system that allows players to gain speed by defeating enemies on the track. Reviewers appreciate the nostalgic PS1 aesthetic, engaging controls, and the depth of gameplay that encourages skillful maneuvering and strategy, although some note that the AI can be unchallenging and certain mechanics may require refinement. Overall, the game offers a fun and chaotic racing experience that stands out in the genre.
- “The gameplay is fun and innovative for a kart racer, and the combination of gothic aesthetics with a PS1 style creates a stylish and nostalgic mix.”
- “The game has a lot of depth in its mechanics, with a lot of unique feeling kart options, some great level designs, and fun items.”
- “The mechanics are fun, the items are satisfying to bash your enemies with, and the karts look very original.”
- “But to expect progression in a campaign mode, with this gameplay identity confusion between racing and combat, and being railed against the wall by merciless AI is an ask too far.”
- “The control mechanics are not up to the standards of modern kart racing games.”
- “There were quite a few stages in the single player that felt annoying because of the dependence on item RNG, and some stages felt impossible to gain an advantage on because they don't give you any opportunities to use the game's unique aether vial mechanics, which is a huge missed opportunity.”
story
190 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The game's story mode is a surprising highlight, offering a short but engaging narrative that incorporates elements from Bloodborne, complete with unique boss fights and various gameplay modes. While some players found the story to be somewhat simplified and easy to follow, it is praised for its nostalgic presentation, humor, and the overall fun it brings to the racing experience. Despite its brevity, the campaign is considered enjoyable and well-crafted, making it a worthwhile addition to the game.
- “The whole game feels so surreal and I love it, it's like you're dreaming all of this, which ties in with the 'nightmare' part of the plot, I guess.”
- “The presentation of the game is really great, the characters and karts are fun, and the campaign has been a great way of playing the game while unlocking new characters to the free play mode, while also telling quite an interesting story and providing a nice challenge in reaching the secret ending.”
- “The story, though dark and complex, ultimately carries a message of hope.”
- “The story in comparison to Bloodborne is watered down and summarized a lot, with most of it skipped over and used as set-ups for the upcoming races and arena modes.”
- “The campaign mode does have very little story.”
- “Only thing was a convoluted story that is like that on purpose and I could figure it out if I tried but I don't really want to do all that.”
humor
164 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in this game is widely praised for its clever parodies and hilarious cutscenes, particularly for fans of Bloodborne, as it cleverly blends gothic horror themes with chaotic kart racing. Players appreciate the over-the-top comedic elements, such as absurd character designs and funny mechanics, which contribute to a light-hearted and entertaining experience. Overall, the game is described as a fun and funny homage that successfully delivers laughs while maintaining solid gameplay.
- “A hilarious spoof of a certain Victorian action horror game while also being just a solid kart racer in its own right.”
- “It's a hilariously faithful racer recreation of Bloodborne that's surely worth playing for anyone interested in either the PSX style or FromSoftware's games.”
- “An absolutely chaotic, gothic, and hilarious game to play with your friends.”
- “Not funny enough to put up with on my hard drive.”
stability
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
76%
The game exhibits a range of stability issues, including frequent glitches and janky physics, which can detract from the experience but are often seen as charming rather than game-breaking. While some players report no major crashes and find the game runs well, others note that certain levels and AI behavior can be frustrating due to bugs. Overall, the developers are actively updating the game to address these issues, and many players still find it enjoyable despite its imperfections.
- “Despite any current bugs it may have, it runs great and it's way more than I ever expected from a free game.”
- “Runs great on Steam Deck!”
- “I do recommend it because the character is there, and it runs great on Deck despite being unverified; the controls are just a challenge.”
- “It's a buggy mess; too often you will be crashing into walls due to the fact it's dark and thus hard to see what's up ahead, and there are also chances of getting stuck and having to reverse.”
- “Since some of the parts of the races are buggy, I think they should fix the races before adding new content, since it is tedious to go from first place to hitting an invisible wall and watching everyone pass you.”
- “I absolutely love the concept, but the rebinding for keyboard might be buggy (where it rebinds the key to what you wanted to change it to plus the original button), and it's not very obvious how to switch controller formats, which caused me to buy a $20 Xbox controller just to play it.”
atmosphere
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
52%
5%
The game's atmosphere is a unique blend of dark, gothic elements reminiscent of Bloodborne, enhanced by a quirky, upbeat soundtrack that contrasts with its foreboding visuals. Players appreciate the nostalgic PS1 aesthetic and the immersive character designs, which contribute to a captivating experience that balances humor and horror. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its polish and ability to evoke a sense of both fun and tension, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The atmosphere, soundtrack, easter eggs, and gags in this game make this a must-play for any fan of wacky games, especially if they've played Bloodborne.”
- “From character designs to the haunting soundtrack, every element evokes the gothic horror atmosphere that made Bloodborne so captivating.”
- “The game's atmosphere, characterized by its foreboding landscapes and grotesque adversaries, mirrors the inner battles we all face against sin and temptation.”
- “And the music does not fit the atmosphere and tone at all.”
- “How do you make a game with such a gritty Victorian gothic atmosphere and give it a bouncy Crash Team Racing-esque soundtrack?!”
- “The game is a fun combination of racing and battles, and the music is bright and kart-like juxtaposed with the dark & gloomy Bloodborne atmosphere.”
replayability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
42%
12%
Overall, "Nightmare Kart" is praised for its high replayability, offering a variety of game modes, a campaign with unique boss fights, and a new game+ mechanic. While some users noted the absence of multiplayer options could limit replay value, many found the single-player experience engaging and fun, with multiple endings and diverse gameplay elements contributing to its longevity. As a free game, it stands out for its depth and replayability compared to larger studio titles.
- “For everyone waiting for Bloodborne and Crash Team Racing/Mario Kart on PC, our wish has come true: Nightmare Kart - a masterpiece created with love and care that offers fun and challenging gameplay with almost endless replayability.”
- “This game is very fun to play and has a lot of replay value to it with the new game + mechanic.”
- “Absolutely perfect game with great replayability.”
- “This will probably be my game of the year despite the minimal replayability.”
- “No multiplayer means the replay value is pretty low though you can use remote play to still play, though the added input delay can be felt.”
- “For a free game, there is a lot of replayability and you can definitely have a lot of fun with it by yourself or with friends as well.”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
Reviewers praise the character development for its charming designs and concepts that evoke a captivating gothic horror atmosphere reminiscent of Bloodborne. However, there is a desire for more content and multiplayer support to enhance the overall experience. The character designs, along with the game's thematic elements, contribute significantly to its appeal.
- “I really love the character designs and concepts; they are all interesting and contribute to the overall experience.”
- “I really love the character designs and concepts, but I do wish there was multiplayer support outside of the remote play and would really love to see this game get more possible content or something in the future.”
- “The bloodborne DNA is still there in the weapons and level designs and theming of things, but the swapped around character designs are all really charming.”
- “From character designs to the haunting soundtrack, every element evokes the gothic horror atmosphere that made Bloodborne so captivating.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its nostalgic PSX visuals that evoke childhood memories and even lead to tears of joy. Despite some gameplay mechanics feeling off, the overall immersion and emotional impact leave a lasting impression, making players feel like kids again.
- “This game was so good, it made me cry.”
- “Great work devs, you made me feel like a kid again :)”
- “Psx visuals are very well implemented and made me feel incredibly nostalgic.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
38%
38%
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that it can be excessively time-consuming and tedious, particularly due to buggy race mechanics that disrupt progress. While the racing experience is generally enjoyable, the need for extensive grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading some to feel that significant time investment is required to succeed.
- “This game is not like those games - it rekindles that fantastic battle racing feeling in a whole new way and it feels good to race, not slow, not tedious, just mmf.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Since some of the parts of the races are buggy, I think they should fix the races before adding new content. It's tedious to go in first place and then hit an invisible wall, watching everyone pass you.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
Nightmare Kart is a free-to-play racing game that impressively features no microtransactions, allowing players to enjoy the experience without financial barriers. However, there are concerns regarding the intellectual property issues that may hinder future multiplayer additions and the game's potential for monetization. Overall, the game's monetization model is praised for its accessibility, but the legal complexities surrounding its branding could impact its growth.
- “Nightmare Kart is a racing game in the style of Mario Kart, with a Bloodborne theme, a PS1 art style, and it's free-to-play with no microtransactions.”
- “Just amazing! Hope to see a multiplayer mode at some point, but it's understandable if it's a bit too hard to add, especially with the issues of the IP and monetization.”
- “Just amazing, hope to see a multiplayer at some point, but understandable if it's a bit too hard to add, especially with the issues of the IP and monetization.”
- “After all, we all know the only gore-drenched 1750's styled top-hat they have in this race is the legal stranglehold they keep on their precious IP even though they continue to do literally nothing with it outside of throwing their weight around for what is basically free advertising of your product that makes zero money for said advertiser promoting your game for you.”
- “Also, Sony lost out on one of the best free advertising campaigns; they had it in the palm of their hand but they had to ruin it.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The game boasts an impressive download size of just a couple hundred megabytes while delivering excellent performance, even during remote gameplay. However, the AI requires significant improvement, as it often exhibits poor behavior, and the repetitive power-ups and lack of diverse game modes detract from replayability. Overall, the optimization is commendable, but there are critical areas that need enhancement to elevate the gaming experience.
- “The download size of a couple hundred megabytes is nice, and the performance is excellent even over remote gameplay.”
- “It's an important reminder how much fun you can pack into 290 megabytes, especially now that some AAA titles are getting out of hand with 90 to even a whopping 300 gigabytes of wasted and unoptimized space.”
- “The AI needs improvement; even at higher difficulty levels, the performance of the enemies is lackluster. Sometimes they crash against a wall or a fence and stay there for the entire race. Additionally, the power-ups are repetitive and there need to be more game modes; otherwise, there is no reason to play this game twice.”
- “It's an important reminder of how much fun you can pack into 290 megabytes, especially when some AAA games are bloated to 90 or even a whopping 300 gigabytes of wasted and unoptimized space.”